Primer is the base under your makeup. Silicone or water-based? Which one should you choose? Even though a primer, smoothing base under your foundation, is not the most essential item in your makeup bag, if you use foundation regularly, you probably know it very well.
Many of us try to keep our beauty routine and makeup as simple as possible. But if you do wear foundation, primer reallyshould not be the product you cross off your list. Primer is brilliant because you can rely on it when it comes to how polished your makeup looks.
Thanks to a primer, your foundation stays in good shape on your face for much longer. A primer fills in fine lines, so foundation does not settle into them. You have probably noticed that when foundation is used the wrong way, it can actually emphasise your wrinkles.
Primer also helps minimise the appearance of pores by filling them in, so your foundation is much less likely to highlight them. Instead of foundation sitting in your pores, it is the primer that settles there.
Primer can smooth dry patches and, at the same time, help with oilier areas on your face.
But a little warning here: a primer will never replace proper skincare. It only prepares your skin for makeup – it does not treat it.
A primer can even help even out your skin tone. That’s why some women like to use it on its own, without foundation, and then add a touch of blush.
What to think about when choosing a primer
If your goal is to use primer as a base under your foundation, you will get the best result when your primer has the same type of base as your foundation.
In practice, that means:
- If your foundation is silicone-based, choose a silicone-based primer.
- If your foundation is water-based, pick a primer with a water base.
Why does this matter?
You probably know that water and silicone, or water and oil, repel each other and do not mix naturally. So even if you’re trying to “help” your foundation with a primer, if you choose the wrong type, the result wil not make you happy.
A foundation combined with the wrong type of primer can create patchy areas on the skin, and after a while, it starts tobreak up and slide down.
How to tell what type of primer or foundation you have
The good news is it is simple. Just look at the ingredients list (INCI).
Silicone-based primer
A silicone-based primer has ingredients near the top of the list ending in:
- -cone
- -silicate
- -siloxane
It may still have water (aqua) as the very first ingredient, but the key is those silicone endings high up in the list.
Water-based primer
A water-based primer does not contain oils and usually does not contain silicones, or if it does, they’re in very smallamounts.
At the top of the list, you will usually see:
- water/aqua
- or glycerin
Oil-based primer
An oil-based primer is less common, but it does exist. Near the top of the INCI, you will find ingredients like:
- lanolin oil
- paraffin oil
- petroleum oil
- almond oil
or ingredients ending in -oleate.
Some primers are labelled “oil-free”, which usually means they are water-based. It’s still worth checking the INCI, though. Sometimes the label only refers to oils, and the primer can still contain silicones.
Which one should you choose?
Silicone primers are very popular because they do a fantastic job of filling in fine and even moderately deep lines andpores.
However, a silicone primer is not the best choice for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Quite simply, silicones can irritate sensitive skin and, in acne-prone skin, can further clog pores that are already struggling.
Makeup artists often say that silicone-based primer works best for oily skin because the silicone layer makes it harder for sebum to come through to the surface of the skin.
But as I have already mentioned, it is not suitable for acne-prone skin.
Water-based primers are usually the best match for dry and dehydrated skin, but they are also suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin. They have a lighter texture, hydrate the skin to a certain degree and usually contain ingredients that soften and smooth the skin.
Oil-based primers are a bit richer and heavier and are suitable for dry skin.
Don’t forget that dry skin needs a good drink before primer, so apply a proper hydrating moisturiser first, and then go in with your primer.
Another way to choose – by what you want it to do
You can also look at primer from another angle and decide based on what you expect from it:
- You want a more matte complexion?
- Go for a water-based primer with a mattifying effect. They’re often labelled Matte Base or Mattifying.
- You’re trying to keep oily, shiny skin under control?
- Choose a primer labelled Oil Control.
- Do you have visible pores?
- A Pore Minimising Primer will serve you well.
- Does your skin need more hydration?
- Choose a water-based primer.
- Do you expect to sweat during the day or be in a very humid environment?
- Reach for a silicone primer.
- Do you want to fill in lines and smooth the skin’s surface?
- A silicone primer is a good bet here, too, or look for names like Smoothing Primer.
- You mainly want your foundation to go on easily, quickly and evenly?
- In that case, choose a primer whose job is to create that “perfect canvas” for makeup. For example, something with a label like Silk Touch Luminizing.
- Do you struggle with redness?
- Look for a primer labelled something like Redness Control.
- You would like more radiance – and maybe do not even plan to use foundation?
- Try a primer enriched with pearl powder. These are often called Highlighting Primer.
How to match your favourite foundation with the right primer
If you are now feeling a bit confused and do not know how to match your tried-and-true foundation with a primer, here is a simple trick.
Compare the first ingredients (or at least their endings) in the INCI lists of both products.
If they look similar or the same, there is a very good chance you have just found a primer and foundation that will work beautifully together.
I hope that now it will be much easier for you to choose the right primer, one that helps you create that long-lasting, beautifully smooth makeup with ease.
